Railway-car truck.



No. 882,642. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. M. KENNEDY.

RAILWAY CAR TRUCK. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.16.1B07.

2 SHEETS-SHBET l.

Mil/#11 1111 No. 882,642. PATENTED MAR. 24, 1908. M. KENNEDY.

RAILWAY GAR TRUCK.

APPLIUATION FILED EPT.16.19

4 8 07 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

MARTIN KENNEDY, OF (lllLAGO,1LLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

RAILWAY-CAR TRUCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 24,1908.

Application filed September 16, 1907. Serial No. 392,977.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, h'lARTIN KENNEDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicage, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain newand useful 1m rovements in Railway Car Trucks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway 'car trucks and has for its object to provide a truck which shall be simpler and more economical in its construction and, at the same time, stronger and more durable than the railway car trucks now in use.

There are several dili'erent kinds of trucks used in railway car construction at the pres ent time. These trucks may be said, however, to consist in general of side members, sometimes termed arch bars, a transverse member or bolster on which the car body rests and which is elastically supported, and means for holding the arch bars in proper relation to each other and for holding the transverse member or bolster in proper relation with each other by means of with the arch bars. Ordinarily the side members are held in rigid, parallel relation I a sand plank, transoms, or the like. This rigidity of structure is a disadvantage. It is evident that when the truck rounds a curve the inner and outer arch bars are subjected to different strains. A railway car truck is always, in fact, subject to very severe strains, the de s'tructive efi'ects of which mi ht be lessened if the parts of the truck could be allowed a certain amount of play. In the trucks ordinarily in use to-day the archbars are provided with openings, the bolster extending through these openings on either side. This construction obviously weakens the arch bars and, moreover, necessitates the use of means for guiding the movement of the bolster. Ordinarily the openings are made large enough not only to give play to the bolster, but also to afford space for the bolster springs, the latter being seated on the sand plank, or upon a flat surface-formed on the arch bars. By; thus constructing the arch bars with openings of this character, they are further weakened; and experience has shown that a large number of breaks in car trucks have occurred through the narrow portion of the arch bar near the opening. In trucks in use'to-day the springs are usually seatedupon a flat surface and, in consequence, they may very easily fall out or be intentionally broken and has to be replaced.

abstracted, or else special means has to be:

ONE-HALL r0 WILLIAM anNsHAw,

provided for holding them in position, which meansnecessitates practically the dismemberment of the trucks when a spring is -My invention has for its object to remedy all of these defects inherent ofthe trucks now in use on railway cars by providing a truck in which the number of parts shall be reduced to a 1nini1num,-the'structure of these arts. simplified, which shall require practical y no repairs, and. winch shall be stronger and.

more durable than any now in use.

My invention has for afurther object to provide means for springs in position and source of weakness but, on the contrary, of strength to the truck and which. shall not prevent an easy replacement of the springs in case of such necessity.

The invention has for further objects such new and improved L7l)llSi'l'lit'ii\r'slS and arrangements as shall be described in the iol lowing specification and set forth more pan ticularly in the claims. t

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a plan view of ing my invention with parts for urposes of illustration. Fig. 2 is a vextica section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, look ing in the direction of the arrows, a portion of the spring cup wall being broken'awayto show the position of the spring. end elevation. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the bolster. of one of the archbars. Fig. 6 is a, vertical section taken longitudinallyof'the bolster;

a truck embodyand Fig. 7 is a detail plan showing a modificaarch bars are india cup-like formation, this construction afsecurely holding the which shall not be'a.

; Fig53is an Fig. 5 is a perspective view broken away;

is preferably givendanger of their being intentionally abstracted.

- relation and accomplishing this latter by .of the bolster and engagement must permit an easy, vertical which efiectually ened preferably made hollow, as shown in Figs-4 .struct the heads the end walls 10 of fording a secure seat for the spring or springs which sustain the bolster. In the form of device shown, two springs are to be used at each end of the bolster and hence the arch bars are formed with two cups, designated by the numerals 3, 4. It will be observed that this structure is such as to reinforce the arch bar at the very point where it is subjected to the greatest strain. At the same time, seats are provided for the springs prevent them from falling out, even should the truck be tipped over on one side, and which effectually removes the The plate 2 is likewise a reinforcement to the arch bar Which,;it will be seen, is not weakby any opening.

Forward and back from the central, boxlike structure extend the horizontal bars or pieces 5, which are preferably reinforced by diagonal braces 6 and provided with bolt holes 7 for attachment of the axle boxes.

The bolster consists of a beam 8, which is and 6, and provided with end pieces or heads 9. These heads are adapted to be received. into the box-like structure onthe arch bars.

My invention contemplates doingaway entirely with the sand plank or rigid transoms 'for holding the arch bars in parallel means of the cross-bolster, with these manifest advantages, namely, that the number of parts of the truck is reduced and there is given to it a certain flexibility or capacity of the parts for independent movement which goes a long Way toward minimizing the destructive efiects of the strains to which the car truck is necessarily subjected. I accomplishthis result by providing an interlocking, slidable engagement between the heads the arch bars.

movement of the bolster, keep the arch bars in substantially parallel relation to each other and preferably it should allow, for the reasons above stated, a certain amount of play between the parts. Preferably I con- 9 of the bolster, which I prefer to make larger than the central portion of the same, on a series'of oii'set lines,

the arch bars being correspondingly formed. The box-like recesses in the arch bars have their openings on the inside of the arch bars somewhat contracted. The bolster thus holds the arch. bars at a proper distance and in a substantially parallel relationship. 'The end surfaces of the bolster are preferably given considerable Width, so that there are broad'bearings or common surfaces of contact between the ends of the bolster and plate 2 of the arch bars.

In Fig. 7 I have shown at 11 a somewhat modified form of interlocking head, the arch bar 12 being, of-course, correspondingly conl Such an structed. It will be cise forms given to the interlocking parts might be varied considerably.

Springs 13 are seated in the cups of the arch bar and upon these springs the bolster normally is supported. The axle boxes are held in position'between the ends of the arch bars and the tie bars 14 in theflordinary manner, the latter being secured to the arch bars by bolts or otherwise. The axle boxes and their associated parts form no part of my invention and, therefore, have not been shown.

It will be seen that the truck is very simple both as to the number of parts and as to their structure. It may be termed a three-part truck; each part may tegral casting. Simplicity and fewness of parts are highly desirable qualities in railway construction. Obviously the fewer the parts the less chance there is of breaking, and the simpler the parts the more massive and strong they may bemade. It is very desirable to dispense as far as possible with small parts likely to become detached and fall under the train and 'with riveted and bolted joints. The arch bars of my truck present none of the elements of weakness found in the arch bars ordinarily employed at the present time; they have no openings; the cup-like spring seats reinforce the structure at-what is ordinarily its weakest point the arch bars 11'] ay be made of a single casting, without any riveted The interlocking of the bolster with thearch bars holds the latter in proper relation and still permits some slight play between the. parts. The connection between the bolster and arch bars, it will be observed, is brought about without weakening the latter. If aspring breaks, it is only necessary to lift the bolster, remove the broken spring and drop the new one in its place. The springs are nevertheless prevented from falling out. In case the springs should break on the road, the bolster will merely settle-down on the top of the spring cups and the car will be carried along as well as before, except, of course, that it will not be cushioned.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to limit myself to the particular devices and constructions shown in the draw-' ings, as obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Ordinarily in using my invention the members of my truckwill constitute the arch barsand truck bolster;

obvious that the pre-.

or bolted joints.

for that reason I have conveniently shown and. designated. them as arch bars and bolster, respectively; but those terms, as used in my specification, are not intended to have a limited significance, but serve to conveniently designate 'the end members and the transverse connecting member of my improved truck, Whether, in any given embodiment of my invention, they do conmembers, the ends stitute technically the arch bars and bolster of the structure. Obviously, also, it would be immaterial to the spirit of my invention if a greater number of elementswere used in a given structure. I claim: I

1. in a railway car truck, a pair of integral arch bars each consisting of a central, box-like structure open on the inside and closed on the outside, with its end walls jutting inwardly in off-set planes, cups forming spring seats in the bottom of said boxlike structure, horizontal bars extending forward and back from the box-like structure, diagonal braces from the bottom of the box to said horizontal bars, in combination with a bolster having heads formed to correspond with the interior of the boxdike structures of the arch bars so as to interlock therewith and constitute slidable engagements be tween the bolster and the arch bars which allow free movement to the bolster and retain the arch bars at a proper distance apart and substantially parallel, and springs in said cups upon which the bolster rests.

2. In a railway car truck, a pair of integral arch bars each consisting of a central, box-like structure open on the inside and closed on the outside with its end walls jutting inwardly in off-set planes and the lower partsthereof having cup-like formations forming spring seats, and members extending forward and back from said'boX-like structure for attachment of the axle boxes, in combination with a bolster having heads formed 'to correspond with the interior of the box-like structures of the arch bars, so as to interlock therewith and constitute slidable, engagements between the bolster and the arch bars which allow free movement to the bolster and retain the arch bars at a proper distance apart and substantially parallel, and springs in said cup-like formations in whic bolster rests.

3. A railway truck comprising side members, a transverse member having interlocking and slidable engagement with" the side members, the ends of said transverse member being inclosed by said side members, which latter form abutm'ents for the ends of the transverse member, and elastic means for supporting the transverse member.

4.- A railway truck comprising side mema transverse member having interlockmembers, said side members having side plates against which the ends of-the transverse member abut, and elastic means for supporting the transverse member,

5. A railway truck comprising side memhers, a-transverse member having interloclc ing and slidable engagement with "the side of said transverse mem her being inclosed and guided oil-three sides by the side members, and springs interposed supporting said bolster,

between the side members and the transverse member.

. 6. A railway truck comprising side members, a transverse'member the ends of which abut against and slide upon the inner sides of the side members, the side members formed so as to guides for the side surfaces ofthe transverse member, and elastic means for supporting the transverse member.

7. A railway truck comprising side members, a transverse member'the ends of which abut against and have slidable' engagement with the side members, and elastic means for supporting the transverse member, said side members and transverse member provided with common surfaces of contact of such contour as to permit the free up and down movement of the transverse member and hold the side members at proper distance apart and interlock with and constitute in substantially parallel relationship with each other.

8. Thecombination with a pair of arch bars each consisting of a central, box-like structure open atthe inside and closed at the outside, of a bolster the ends of which extend into said recesses, said bolster having interlocking and slidable engagement with the arch bars, and elastic means for supporting said bolster.

9. The combination'with a pair of arch bar's each'consisting of acentral, box-like structure open at. the inside and closed at the outside, of a bolster having enlarged ends which extend into said recess and having an interlocking and slidable engagement with the arch bars, and elastic means for supporting said bolster.

10. The combination with a pair of arch bars each consisting of a central, box-like structure open at the inside and closed at the outside, of a bolster the ends of which extend into said recesses and have flat surfaces sliding upon the flat side of the arch bars, the arch bars and bolster formed with interloc ring means whereby the bolster serves to connect and hold the arch bars in proper relation,

and elastic means for supporting said bolster.

' 11. The combination with a pair of arch bars each consisting-of a central, box-like structure open at the inside and closed at thc outside, of a bolster the ends of which extend into said recesses and having interlocking, and slidable engagement with the archb'ars, cups formed in the bottom of said recesses, and springs in said cups upon which the bolster is supported; g

12. Thecombination with a pair of arch bars' each consisting of a central, box-like structure open at the inside and closed at the outside, with 'a' bolster the ends of which extend into said recesses, and elastic means for the surfaces of said recesses constructed with mutually conforming, flat surfaces whereby the'bolster is guided in its vertical movement and the .arch bars are held without the employment,

bars each consisting of a central, box-like structure open at the inside and closed at the outside, of a bolster theends of which extend into said recesses, and elastic means for supporting the bolster, the ends of said bolster and said recesses being provided with mutually conforming surfaces of contact of such a character as Without the employment of other means to maintain the arch bars in substantially parallel relationship with each otherv and at the same time permit a slight play between thep'a'rts so connected."

and inside and closed at the outside, the lowerpart of said box-like structure having cuplike formation closingthe boxlike structure-atthe-bottomand part way up the inside" thereof, and extensions forward and lbacls from said boX-like-strueture for attachment of the journal boxes, al-lof these parts forming. a. single, integral structure.

railwaytruck com rising side mem--. awmginterloeb .15. bars, a transverswmember I ing and slidable engagemenfiwith the side members WitllOlllf extending through the satires-whereby the side members are kept in substantially parallel relationshipsolely by means of said transverse member, thelatter having capacity for vertical movement, and elastic means'for supporting said transverse member. a 1

. I6. Arailway truck com rising side members, a transverse member aving'interlocking and slidable' engagement with the side -st antially parallel relationshi other and means for elastical y supporting the transverse member.

14. i A railway truck archbarconsisting of a central, box-like structure open at the top stantially parallel relationship, but with ca pacity for slight independent movement.

' l7 A three-part railway truck: comprising a pair of integral side members, an integral transverse member having interlocking and s'lidable engagement with the side members Without extending through the same, Where by the transverse member has capacity'for vertical movement freely up and down against the side members and the side members are Without further means held in subwith each 18. A railway track, comprising side members and means for connecting the same, said side members'being imperforate at the place of connectlon with said connecting means whereby the side members are held substantially parallel to each other and at a proper distance apart, but With capacity for slight independent rocking movement on the connectmgmeansL l v 1 9. A'railway tru ck comprising side members and a transverse member, the trans verse member connecting 'the side members insuch manner-as to hold them at a proper distance and substantially parallel to each other, the side. members being imperforate at the places of connection with the transverse,

member but with capacity for slight independent rocking movement on the transverse member.

. MARTIN KENNEDY.

Witnesses: e PERCIVAL H.'TRUMAN,

H. L. PEcK.- 

